Premium British lifestyle brand Lyle & Scott have revealed a new initiative to provide free bespoke teamwear for amateur football teams.

The name is most familiar for its knitwear and fashion ranges, and while Lyle & Scott have collaborated with Neal Heard in a “Lover’s FC” [sic] collection, the donation of playing wear to grassroots sides - simply billed as “Kits for Clubs” - is something not many would have expected of them.

Addressing the gulf in resources between the top of the game and the bottom, the stated aim is to go some way to righting the wrong of grassroots football being “shamefully underfunded” by removing the cost of kitting out a team. With an application window now open, clubs from around the world - “whether 5, 7 or 11-a-side, freestylers, pub teams or mid-week footballers” - can submit their request to be supplied with kits in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. An expert panel will then review all applications individually before deciding which teams will receive the free Lyle & Scott football kits.

Designed in-house and developed through the brand’s long-established production processes, the kits pay homage to the brand’s 150 years of heritage, combining Lyle & Scott’s expertise in fashion, football and products developed for performance. Teams will be able to choose their favourite kit from a range of shirts designed to look and feel great. The range includes an Argyle pattern, or a thistle-inspired design for those wanting something striking, or more classic designs for the football purists.

The number of grassroots teams that end up with Lyle & Scott’s golden eagle will be in the thousands. It’s certainly an idea that comes from left field - tied up with an encouragingly laudable mission - and it has the potential to have a major impact on the teamwear scene.